No. 10 Rowing Poised to Race For Regional Title After Strong First Day at South/Central Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
May 17, 2003
Columbus, OH – The No. 10 Ohio State rowing team will enter the final day of competition at the 2003 South/Central Regional Championships in prime contention for the regional crown as the Buckeyes qualified all six of its boats for Grand Finals during the preliminary and semifinal rounds Saturday in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The strong first day was a big step in impressing the NCAA selection committee and qualifying for the team’s fourth-consecutive NCAA championship regatta.
Student-athletes from all schools raced with as few as 20 minutes off the water between preliminary heat cool downs and warm-ups for semifinal and repechage heats due to a condensed schedule caused by the threat of severe weather.
The Buckeye first varsity 8 coasted to victory in its morning heat, finishing in six minutes, 28.4 seconds, outracing Texas (6:31.2) and Duke (6:38.9). The boat then finished in second (6:23.1), 1.4 seconds behind Virginia, sufficient to qualify for the first varsity 8 Grand Finals. The regional ‘A’ final tomorrow will include a field of six crews, all of which are ranked in the Top 20 nationally. The race will include No. 7 Michigan, No. 10 Ohio State, No. 11 Michigan State, No. 12 Virginia, No. 17 Texas and No. 19 Tennessee.
The second varsity 8 raced in one of the most dramatic races of the day, drastically improving the Ohio State’s chances of a regional championship. After finishing in 6:44.4, third behind Virginia (6:32.1) and Michigan State (6:32.4) in the boat’s preliminary heat, the team competed in an intense repechage, racing for a trip to the Grand Finals. Michigan, Tennessee and Ohio State battled at the front throughout the 2000-meter course, with only the Top 2 finishers advancing to the ‘A’ Final. Despite sitting in third for most of the race, the OSU second 8 raced past the Wolverines and Lady Vols to finish in 6:34.3 and take first in the heat, qualifying for the Grand Finals. Virginia, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan will race in the second varsity 8 Grand Finals Sunday.
“Everyone fought hard today, especially the second varsity,” Andy Teitelbaum, Ohio State head coach, said. “That was a big event. Had they not made the grands, it would’ve wounded our chances of qualifying for the NCAA championships, but we’re definitely still alive now.”
The Ohio State first 4 vastly improved from its racing two weeks ago at the Big Ten championships. The crew won its preliminary heat (7:17.9), 1.8 seconds ahead of Clemson, then finished second in the event’s semifinals to qualify for the Grand Finals. The team finished the semis in 7:17.7, just .9 seconds behind Iowa.
After the second varsity 4’s two-year-long unbeaten steak came to an end May 3 at the Big Ten championships, the team returned to winning form Saturday, taking first in its preliminary heat to skip the repechage round and qualify immediately for the Grand Finals. The team defeated Iowa, Tennessee and Clemson, finishing 5.8 seconds ahead of the Hawkeyes, the boat’s closest competitor.
The Buckeye first novice boat scrapped its way into the Grand Finals as well. After taking third in the preliminary heat, the crew finished second in its semifinal race (6:49.0), 1.5 seconds behind Virginia.
Conference rivals Michigan and Michigan State also qualified for all six of the regatta’s Grand Finals, while Virginia will race in each Grand Final, excluding the first varsity 4.
“It was a challenging day with such a short turnaround time,” Teitelbaum said. “It was really a task to stay focused and get the job done even though there was a lot going on that wasn’t planned (due to the weather). Tomorrow is a big day, but everyone come back tomorrow with a chance to be a regional champion.”
The finals session also has been condensed and will begun Sunday morning at 9 a.m. with the first varsity 8 Grand Finals.
2003 South/Central Regional Championships, Day 1 Preliminary Heats First Varsity 8 Heat 2 1. Ohio State 6:28.4 2. Texas 6:31.2 3. Duke 6:38.9 4. North Carolina 6:42.6 5. Cincinnati 6:52.3
1st-3rd advance to A/B semifinals 4th-6th advance to C/D semifinals
Second Varsity 8 Heat 1 1. Virginia 6:32.1 2. Michigan State 6:32.4 3. Ohio State 6:44.4 4. Texas 6:55.6 5. Minnesota 7:02.0 6. Kansas State 7:09.4 7. Cincinnati 7:12.9
1st place advances to Grand Final 2nd-7th advance toRepechage
First Varsity 4 Heat 3 1. Ohio State 7:17.9 2. Clemson 7:20.7 3. Michigan State 7:26.5 4. Miami 7:32.5 5. Kansas State 7:36.2 6. E. Michigan 7:56.6
1st-4th advance to Semifinals 5th-6th advance to ‘C’ final
Second Varsity 4 Heat 2 1. Ohio State 7:23.1 2. Iowa 7:28.9 3. Tennessee 7:32.8 4. Clemson 7:49.6
1st place advances to Grand Final 2nd-5th advance to Repechage
1st Novice 8+ Heat 1 1. Virginia 6:43.5 2. Duke 6:46.9 3. Ohio State 6:48.0 4. Kansas 6:51.4 5. Cincinnati 7:10.8
1st-4th advance to Semifinals 5th-6th advance to ‘C’ final
Semifinal/Repechage Heats First Varsity 8 A/B Semifinal 2 1. Virginia 6:21.7 2. Ohio State 6:23.1 3. Texas 6:24.7 4. Iowa 6:28.0 5. Duke 6:38.3 6. Miami (Fla.) 6:56.2
1st-3rd advance to Grand Final 4th-6th advance to Petite Final
Second Varsity 8 Repechage 2 1. Ohio State 6:34.3 2. Michigan 6:34.9 3. Tennessee 6:35.9 4. Minnesota 6:50.4 5. Clemson 7:02.6 6. Cincinnati 7:03.1
1st-2nd advance to Grand Final 3rd-5th advance to Petite Final 6th place advances to ‘C’ Final
First Varsity 4 Semifinal 2 1. Iowa 7:16.7 2. Ohio State 7:17.6 3. Minnesota 7:19.3 4. Virginia 7:32.0 5. Texas 7:37.3 6. Miami (Fla.) 8:00.6
1st-3rd advance to Grand Final 4th-6th advance to Petite Final
First Novice 8 Semifinal 1 1. Virginia 6:47.5 2. Ohio State 6:49.0 3. Texas 6:52.8 4. Miami (Fla.) 6:56.8 5. Indiana 6:59.6 6. Tennessee 7:02.8
1st-3rd advance to Grand Final 4th-6th advance to Petite Final
